Shelf support strip



Nov. 18, 1941. l f K. c. wELcH ErAL 'SHELF SUPPORT STRIP )nveln WeJcndewe.)

Ken e, C.

rhomb' N( Filed Aug'. 2l, 1939 Patented Nov. 18, 1941 SHELF SUPPORTSTRIP Kenneth C. Welch and Anthony Vanderveld, Grand Rapids, Mich.,assignors to Grand Rapids Store Equipment Company,

Grand Rapids,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 21, 1939, Serial No.291,221

` 13 claims. (ci. 24a-243) This invention relates `generally to shelvingsupports and is particularly directed to a metallic strip adapted toreceive and hold supporting members between the spaced apart sidesthereof, the supporting members adapted to support a shelf thereon.

It Vis the principle object of this invention to provide an elongatedstrip comprising spaced apart substantially parallel side portionshaving therebetween a plurality of spaced apart supporting members, someof which are adapted to hold together the spaced sides of the strip.

A still further object'of the invention is to provide a shelf supportstrip whereby a plurality of shelves may be adjustably mounted thereonand held in any position to which adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide means extending betweenthe spaced apart sides of the elongated 'member either integraltherewith or secured thereto, which means, in turn,` are securedtogether whereby the spaced apart sides of the elongated member are heldtogether.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends said invention,`then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and following description set forth in detailcertain means and a few of the modes for carrying out my invention saidmeans constituting, however, but a fewof the various ways in which theprinciple of my invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeparts throughout the various views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional perspective View showing the shelvingsupport of our invention used with a horizontally located shelf, andalso showing the manner in which the shelf is held against verticalmovement.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section ofone Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryside elevational View of the strip of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a horizontal section, a fragmentaryvertical section and a fragmentary side elevational view of one of thestrips showing a modification of our invention,

and

Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a horizontal section and a fragmentaryside elevational view of the strip showing a still further modification.

Inpractice, brackets are used which have ears thereon adapted to beinserted between the sides of the vertically positioned strip and heldagainst the supporting means therein for the purpose of supporting ashelf thereon. `If it is desired, a similar bracket member may beinserted immediately above the shelf in an inverted position to preventits upward movement. The supporting strip itself is adapted to beinserted 'within a slot in the vertical side members of a shelvingstructure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a vertical supportingmemberl is located at each side of the completed structure which has aplurality of vertical slots 2 therein which are i spaced from the frontto the rear of the side member l.' This side member is adapted to havebottom and top supporting members secured bei tween the two sides tomake the completed shelving structure.

The supporting strip of our invention comprises two spaced apartelongated members 3. In the form shown in Figs. l to 5 each of thesemembers has a plurality of vertically spaced apart tongues 4 struckinwardly therefrom and the opposingY gether, some of the contactingtongues 4 are secured together such as by welding or `any other idesired means, which produces a unitary struchas integral therewith andextending at right angles thereto another portion 8 which has a iinger`Svextending upwardly therefrom if the bracket is to be usedbelow theshelf, or downwardly therefrom if the bracket is to be used above theshelf.' In inserting the lower bracket between the sides 3 of thevertical supporting member, the finger 9 is inserted first between twoof the spaced apart supporting means extending between the sides 3. Thefinger S is then inserted behind one of the supporting means whichprevents its removal outwardly. The next lowermost supporting means 4supports the lower edge of the portion 8 thereby preventing any downwardmovement thereof. The portion I of the bracket will then lie flushagainst the side member l and the portion 6 thereof extends outward A lytherefrom in a horizontal planexwhereupon` the shelf l0 may be placedthereon and heldin position. It must be remembered that between thefront and rear edges of each of the side memthe means stated by any ofthe following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.y

We claim: 1. A shelf support strip comprising, an elongated memberhaving spaced apart substantially against being lifted upwardly, asimilar bracket may be placed thereabove 'as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 andheld in position in a vsimilar manner to that described with respectrtothe lower. bracket.

Referring now more particularly to vlr"igs..6, 7 and 8; wherein amodification ofthe supporting means between the spaced apart members 3is shown, instead of the tongues. 4 being struck inwardly andoverlapping each other to form the supportingmeans for the brackets, aplurality of opposing holesare placed ineach of the spaced side members3adapted to receive the ends Il of the supporting lugs. These lugsinclude the smaller circular ends Il, and the enlarged central portionI2 which determines the distance apart of the spaced side members 3. Inassembling this particular modification, the supporting lugs each rhaveone end H thereof inserted in the openings in one of the side members.3,whereupon the other side member is placed over the rst one and receivesthe opposite .ends H in the openings thereof. Some of these supportingmeans are longer than others sothat when the strip has been assembled,the outer .longer ends of some of the means are hammered down andflattened to form the outer ends |.3 thereby holding the spaced sidemembers 3 ,against movement away from each other. .In this modificationthe brackets which support the shelves are inserted in the same mannerabove described with respect to Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

` Referring now more particularly to Figs. 9 and 10, which is a stillfurther modification of our.

invention, each of the strips 3 have a plurality of spaced apartinwardly extending portions I4 at diametrically opposed pointsthroughout the length thereof adapted to bear against each other in theassembled position. These inwardlyv I4 determine the distance` parallelportions, a plurality of supporting means spaced apart along the lengthof said member and between said portions, some of said means holdingsaid portions together, and a flange on the outer edge of each of saidportions extending away from the space therebetween.

2. A shelf support strip comprising, an elongated member having spacedapart substantially parallel portions open at its front and rear sides,and a plurality of opposed spaced apa-rt supporting means extendinginwardly from each of said portions in the space therebetween, some ofsaid opposing means being secured together.

3. A shelf support strip comprising, two separate spaced apart verticalmembers, a plurality of vertically. spaced tongues extending inwardlyfrom each of said members at substantially opspacedapart side member 3of the supporting posed points, and means to secure some of said opposedtongues together, to thereby secure said members together;

4. A shelf support strip comprising, an elongated member having spacedapart substantially parallel portions, a plurality of spaced apartopposed openings in said portions, lugs provided with enlarged centralportions having the ends thereof received in opposed openings, and meansto secure some of said lugs to said parallel portions, for the purposesspecified.

5. The combination of elements defined in claim 4,' said means includingelongated ends on some of said lugs adapted to be flattened, asspecified.

6. A shelf support strip comprising, an elongated member having spacedapart substantially parallel portions, a plurality of spaced apartinwardly extending offset portions on each of said parallel portions atopposed points along the length thereof, the inner surfaces of opposingoffset portions contacting each other to form supporting members, andmeans to secure some of said contacting portions together to hold theparallel portions against relativ-e movement.

'7. The combination with a support havinga vertical slot therein, of ashelf support strip located Within said slot comprising, an elongatedmember having spaced apart substantially parallel portions open at itsfront and rear sides, and a plurality of supporting means spaced apartalong the length of said member and between said portions, some of saidmeans holding said portions together.

8. The combination of elements defined in claim 7, wherein each of saidportions has an outwardly extending flange fiush with the sur- )face ofsaid support.

9. The combination of elements defined in claim '7, said supportingmeans extending inwardly from each of said portions in the spacetherebetween, and some of said means being secured together.

10. The combination of elements dened in claim 7, said supporting meansincluding tongues extending inwardly from each of said members atsubstantially opposed points, and means to secure some of said tonguestogether.

11. The combination of elements defined in claim 7, wherein each of saidportions has an outwardly extending flange ush with the surface of saidsupport,'and said supporting means extending inwardly from each of saidportions in the space therebetween, some of said means being securedtogether.

12. A construction of the class described comprising, two spaced apartvertical side members, vertically spaced lugs extending between saidmembers, some of said lugs serving to hold said members together, and aange on the outer front edge of each of said side members extending awayfrom the spacetherebetween.

13. The combination of elements defined in claim 12, said lugs havingend portions of smaller diameter than the center thereof and receivablein opposed openings in said side members.

KENNETH C. WELCH. ANTHONY VANDERVELD.

